Inexpensive new WiFi On tap For Hawaii flights. Or, do you choose to remain unplugged?
34 thoughts on “Updated: Is There WiFi on Flights To Hawaii? Free + Cheap Options”
Comments are closed.
Home » Blog » Hawaii Travel News » Updated: Is There WiFi on Flights To Hawaii? Free + Cheap Options
I previously said it was $8 for wifi on Southwest OHG to PHX.
It is actually good until midnite so your $8 includes connecting planes until midnite. Pretty cool. It worked great.
I’m happy to be offline for 5+ hours. It’s a relief actually. And I think the $8 fee on Alaska is ridiculous. I’m happy with downloaded movies and my Kindle.
Have traveled on WN, UA & AA all had excellent Wi-Fi
I flew back from San Francisco at the end of January 2022. At the end of boarding, the pilot announce NOT to purchase WiFi as within 10 minutes of departing the coast, you would lose connectivity and it wouldn’t return until we were about 10 minutes outside of Kona.
This was United Airlines. Sadly, the plane did not have in seat entertainment.
I have found the United WiFi availability and service over the Pacific to be weak at best irregardless of the price. To be fair to them I have only gone back to the big Island once since the pandemic and I know firsthand their mainland service has gotten way better over the last 20 months. I would gladly pay $8-12 for a flights worth of good Wifi to HI. Keeping caught up on the plane means more beach time when I land! Mahalo for this great update!
Hi Yachtscott.
Thanks for feedback on UAL’s Hawaii wi-fi.
Aloha.
I would love wifi to Hawaii and would gladly pay $8. NOT $28. I cannot believe the airlines dont offer it yet. They need to get into the 21st century.
Aloha – We used SWA’s $8 wifi while flying HNL to SJC last May. It was a bit spotty but nice to have while it was up. The content was much more extensive that HA’s preloaded content on the A-330 flying PHX to HNL earlier the same month.
BOE,
Unless it’s extra urgent, $28 is way too much. For that, I can wait until we land or even wait until getting to the room.
On the other hand, $8 is fair. But if it’s crappy service, again, I can wait.
Hi Rod.
If you need to work, then maybe $28. Otherwise, concur with you on that. Ancillary fees throughout the tourism sector are problematic.
Aloha.
BOE,
Yes, the costs for all facets of travel, for vacation or work, are going crazy.
Except there seem to be some good airfare deals to Hawaii. Unfortunately, they are “basic” fares. How can there be such a thing as “basic” to Hawaii? Vacation or work – we all need a seat – that’s extra; we all need to bring changes of clothes, yet baggage is extra, it’s a five-hour flight- we all need to eat – that’s extra. In the hotel business “resort fees” are criminal and “basic” airfare is nearly as bad.
BOE, I’m not exaggerating when I tell you I’m online at least 8 hours a day, every day. But, when I get on a flight from here (CA) to HLN or JFK or LHR I never buy the Internet. Never even think about it. I watch movies and sleep.
Reading what I just wrote, if that’s true, maybe I can drop online on the weekend.
Take care,
Rod
Hi Rod.
True that. There’s a lot to be said for unplugging. That having been said, there are times when running out the door, things just need to be tidied up before getting away.
Aloha.
My problem – if I get online, I’m not getting off.
Besides, I’m a good sleeper. My first or second trip to Korea, I went to sleep as soon as we hit altitude and didn’t wake up until we began the descent. It’s the same when I go to Europe and Hawaii.
Aloha,
Rod
I wish Hawaiian airlines would offer WiFi. I fly with them exclusively and 5 to 6 time a year. It is the only complaint I have about them.
Hawaiian has always had one of the worst IFE (inflight entertainment) experiences of any airline. It’s a shame they haven’t gotten WiFi. Southwest even offers live TV with their satellite system and it’s FREE! Even the horrible mainland airline Spirit Airlines, is getting WiFi equipped and it’s actually lightening fast for only $5! WiFi on flights is a necessity with kids. “Unplugging” on the flight over is not an option with a 7-yr old. And there’s only so many times you can watch “The Ride”!
I used to work for an airline in the 90’s to early 2000 and flew to Hawaii many times. I would travel with my sons; 10 and 7. I found ways to entertain them without any electronics….a tennis ball to play catch; paper triangle for “table football”; coloring books; books for reading.
Yes, a 5 hour flight was tough for me to keep them occupied as a single dad. But my son’s didn’t yell or scream on the flight. Other parents were amused even some attendants would play with them.